The Sindh government has approved a substantial transformation plan for Karachi, allocating a one-time Grant-in-Aid of Rs84.796 billion to fund 523 development schemes aimed at resolving the city’s chronic infrastructural and civic challenges.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting at CM House, presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The provincial government intends to forge a strategic partnership with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to execute the mega projects, ensuring high standards of quality and efficiency.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Minister for Local Government Nasir Hussain Shah, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, and a FWO delegation led by its Director General, Major General Abdul Sami.
Chief Minister Shah announced that in addition to the provincial grant, approval has been secured for Rs. 26.282 billion under the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for schemes related to the port city.
‘I want to initiate development projects in partnership with FWO to ensure quality, speed and transparency,’ the chief minister stated, emphasising that the objective is to bring Karachi’s development on par with the world’s best urban centres.
As part of the initiative, six priority infrastructure projects valued at Rs. 10.72 billion have been identified for immediate implementation to address severe traffic congestion and enhance urban mobility.
These fast-tracked schemes include the Rs. 1.025 billion rehabilitation of the road from M-9 to Malir-15, the construction of a Rs. 1.5 billion right-turn underpass at Malir Halt, and a Rs. 1.2 billion flyover from Airport Road to Star Gate to improve airport access.
Other urgent projects are the rehabilitation of the road from Y-Junction to Machli Chowk in Hawksbay for Rs. 1.995 billion and the construction of a major flyover at Sohrab Goth, a primary gateway for intercity traffic, at a cost of Rs. 5.0 billion.
Local Government Minister Nasir Shah and Mayor Murtaza Wahab briefed the meeting, noting that Karachi faces serious structural and environmental issues. They confirmed that 10 to 12 high-visibility schemes are being identified to tackle these problems, with five already approved for early execution.
The comprehensive portfolio of 523 schemes encompasses the reconstruction of damaged internal roads, improvements to traffic management systems, rehabilitation of major arteries and flyovers, and the enhancement of parks and designated thoroughfares. Key executing bodies will include the KMC, KDA, and Karachi Mega Schemes.
Mayor Wahab informed the attendees that the projects were identified through departmental assessments and stakeholder consultations. The schemes aim to ease traffic flow, bolster airport and intercity connectivity, and strengthen logistics routes while improving urban aesthetics.
The chief minister directed that engineers from FWO collaborate with officials from the Local Government department and KMC to finalise designs and identify utilities requiring relocation by the end of February, paving the way for work to commence in March.